Make Sense of MayhemSocial media can feel like mayhem or the tower of Babel. Voices from all over the world, talking on multiple channels at once. Do you have to be everywhere at once? The simple and clear answer is no. It's not about see and be seen. It's about figuring out what you want to gain from your social media experience.

Define Your Social Media Community1. Ask yourself who? With whom do you want to connect?

family?

friends?

colleagues?

new people?

2. Ask yourself what? What do you want to learn, share or do?

unique skill?

personal insight?

connect?

collaboration?

3. Where do you want to be? Where is fixed by who and what.

Communicate with family? Facebook or blog

Connect with colleagues? Google+ or LinkedIn

Read personal stories about relatives reconnecting? feedly

Try out different platforms until you find your fit.

Don't Worry About What You Might Be Missing

Once you have chosen your social media platforms, feel good that you have done your homework and found the best places for you to spend your limited time online. Post, connect and learn in your new social media homes and don't worry that you might be missing something, somewhere. Because you are...missing something. Let it go. If it is super important, that something is going to get around to your venue.

If you just can't let go of missing out on a certain subject, create a Google alert. Everytime Google finds a new message of your subject, you will receive an email.